I suppose almost everyone knows that seven is the number of perfection in Scripture. The Creation was completed in seven days. Each week contains a cycle of seven days. Every seven years Israelites were to rest their fields and leave them unplanted. A seven-branched lamp in the temple represented the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit and so on.
In view of this, it’s fascinating to note that Jesus’ final words on the Pharisees and teachers of the Law of His day are summed up in seven ‘woes’. I suppose the fact that there are seven of these ‘woe’ statements indicate that the leaders were ‘perfect’ failures.
So, how do we keep from being perfect failures in our own spiritual lives? We avoid their seven deadly sins, each of which is associated with exalting ourselves over others rather than living humble, loving lives. The seven?
- Shutting others out.
- Making converts for our own sake and in our own image.
- Making rules for others despite a lack of personal spiritual insight.
- Majoring on minor religious issues while ignoring God’s true priorities.
- Being concerned with appearances rather than personal righteousness.
- Covering sinful motives with deceitful talk and actions.
- Professing responsiveness to God as a cloak to hostility.
Oh, yes. If you want a positive prescription, you might try a simple exercise. Just turn each of these seven around, and make your own list of seven qualities that make for spiritual success!
From ‘The Daily Devotional Commentary by Lawrence O. Richards’.
Last update : 11-11-2007 08:03
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